Internet-Related Hate Speech Identified as Contributor to Increasing PTSD Incidences in Israel According to Research
A new study published in Scientific Reports has shed light on the profound psychological impact of online hostility, particularly on Jewish Israelis following the Hamas attack on 7th October 2023. The research, led by Dr. Dvora Shmulewitz, surveyed nearly 4,000 Jewish Israeli adults two months after the attack.
The study found that approximately 39% of respondents reported encountering hate speech on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X at least weekly since the war began. Shockingly, 25% of respondents met the screening threshold for probable PTSD.
Each standard deviation increase in hate speech exposure was linked to a 2.2-point rise in PTSD scores. This association was especially strong among individuals with high emotion dysregulation, as highlighted by Professor Mikulincer.
The study provides empirical evidence that exposure to online hostility can cause measurable psychological harm. Dr. Shmulewitz emphasized that online hate can act as a form of digital terror, exacerbating the effects of trauma or even functioning as a traumatic event itself.
The researchers proposed stronger moderation through AI-based tools to detect and remove harmful content as an intervention. They also emphasized the urgent need for mental health services to address digital as well as physical trauma. Public awareness campaigns to highlight the mental health risks of online hostility are also proposed as an intervention.
Clinical screening for digital trauma alongside physical exposure is proposed as an intervention for mental health professionals in conflict zones. The study's findings underscore the profound and invisible scars left by digital hostility in conflict zones.
The link between online hostility and mental health risks is further emphasized in the study's findings. The study's publication on September 10, 2025, marks a critical step in recognizing how conflict now extends into digital spaces.
In a related development, a 2023 report by the Anti-Defamation League documented a surge in anti-Semitic content on social media following the 7th October attack. Platforms struggled to effectively moderate the surge in anti-Semitic content, raising concerns about the need for collaboration between researchers and social media platforms to improve hate speech moderation and establish public awareness campaigns about the psychological burden of online aggressive content.
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